Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki and AMA Pro Racing collaborated on another special media event Thursday, when six members of the general media and two event sponsors rode on the back of an AMA Formula Xtreme racebike at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colorado.

As he did to promote the AMA event at Infineon Raceway in early May, Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp gave multi-lap rides to network affiliate television reporters, radio morning-show hosts and two representatives from Rocky Mountain Coors on a specially-prepared 2002 Suzuki GSX-R1000 Formula Xtreme racebike.

The retired racebike – which was clocked at 188 mph when ridden by Josh Hayes last season at Brainerd – is fitted with a production subframe, tailsection, passenger pegs and seat for the guest rides. The same 175-horsepower machine will travel to the remainder of the 2003 AMA rounds providing more race promotion opportunities, said Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki Crew Chief Keith Perry. The team also provides leathers, back protectors, helmets, boots and gloves for the guest riders, although one reporter at Pikes Peak used his own helmet.

To add to the experience, Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Chris Ulrich rides his GSX-R in close proximity to Rapp during the two-seater rides.

“It was Stacey Jones with the AMA who told me, after Infineon, that there was a two-seater program,” said Clark Curtis, Pikes Peak International Raceway Public Relations Manager.
“She passed along the contact information. I called Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki and they said sure enough, just start booking it, this is what we need to know, sizes, this and that, get it for us and we’ll have everything ready. And sure enough it was. (Media) people showed up and it went off like clockwork.

“This was an incredible opportunity. We actually weren’t aware it existed until about two weeks ago. We started calling media. We didn’t know what the response would be to it, but we were able to get all four local TV networks and two FM radio morning-show DJs. It was on both the early and late news shows on all four TV stations and it got on at least one morning show again this morning.

“It was more or less to give them an opportunity to get out and get a feel for what it’s really like to be out on the bikes, which in turn helps us sell the race and get people in the stands. We couldn’t be happier with what happened today.

“So it’s just great for us, and it’s good for them. Some of those guys were a little antsy getting on, but when they got off their eyes lit up. They were very excited.”

“I’ve never been so scared and so excited all at once in my life,” said Bryan Allen, a sports reporter for KRDO-TV, the ABC affiliate for Colorado Springs, Colorado. “You think it’s kind of mild seeing it from a distance, but it’s pretty intense out there.

“I was probably most impressed with how well he handled an extra 190 pounds on the back. You go from however fast, (then) we were decelerating for the turns and all that weight flops up against (him). I thought he handled that very well. When you consider how much it (second rider weight) varies, from 100 pounds to 215, it’s very impressive.”

“My heart was racing,” said sports anchor Jesse Kurtz of KKTV-TV, a CBS and FOX affiliate from Colorado Springs. “You go around that, and he says lean with him. And you’re like, are you serious? That gets us closer to the ground. That defeats the purpose of being on the motorcycle.

“On the straightaways the wind is in your face and you’re cutting through it,” said Kurtz. “That’s a feeling you probably can’t get anywhere else at any time. It’s like you’re cutting through a force that shouldn’t be cut through.”

Asked if he was a fan of motorcycle road racing, Kurtz said, “Oh, I am now. I’ve never been on a motorcycle, period, and to get out there and be going 120 mph on your first ride, that’s pretty impressive.”

“These guys have balls of steel,” said KKFM 98.1 FM morning show host ‘Mondo.’ “That is such high speed. I was terrified. It was the most terrifying and exhilarating thing I’ve ever done.

“You’re just sort of clinging to the track as you go around, and it feels like you’re flying at certain times. The turns were fairly frightening, but when you’re on the straightaway – the speed. I’ve just never gone that fast.


“I did a tandom (skydive) jump out of an airplane a few years ago. You think that would be a pretty invigorating thing, but it’s nothing compared to this. I mean the speed is just amazing. It’s like you’re literally flying down the track. I don’t know how these guys do it, but it was an amazing ride. These guys are true professionals. I’ll be watching these guys at PPIR from now on.”

“That was awesome! I don’t know what speeds we hit, but we did wheelies and we were down by the ground. It was awesome! Awesome!” shouted Romi Rosario, co-host of the Magic Morning Show on KKMG 98.8 FM in Colorado Springs. “He was so smooth. He knew how to shift me in order to go as low to the ground as possible without even bothering me at all. It didn’t scare me at all. I felt really comfortable.”

When informed Rapp almost went fast enough to qualify for last year’s Formula Xtreme race with her on the back, Rosario said, “Really? I’m going to brag about that tomorrow on the show!”

Asked if she was a motorcycle racing fan, Rosario responded, “I was a fan of motorcycles but not actually a fan of motorcycle racing. Now I am.”

Rapp did the fastest lap time of the two-up rides (1:02.3) with event sponsor Creig Olson on-board. The 112 percent qualifying cut-off time for last year’s Formula Xtreme race was 1:01.891.

“It was awesome,” said Olson. “No other feeling like it in the world, just hanging on and letting him have control. You can’t beat it. The flat-out acceleration and the force of the braking coming of the backstraightaway – it was incredible. I got so weak in my arms they actually started to shake trying to hold me up off the tank.”

Olson’s brother Phil, a street and motocross rider, also rode with Rapp and said, “It was awesome. Really good. It’s amazing how close we can get down to the ground around the corners. Just the acceleration of speed going around the back side. Just awesome. I mean I would have pushed it a little bit more coming down the back side, but I don’t see how he can brake with two riders.”

Even though he’s ridden a Suzuki GSX-R1000 himself, Phil Olson was impressed with, “as low as we got. I scraped my foot on the asphalt coming around the corner. It was awesome. He’s an excellent rider, excellent rider.”

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki plans to offer guest rides on the two-seat Formula Xtreme bike at other rounds of the AMA U.S. Superbike Championship.

Media representatives interested in the two-seat ride program can contact AMA Pro Racing’s Stacey Jones via e-mail at [email protected]